Was sending Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden a blessing or a curse?

Post by **Melisa Jane** » 06 Jun 2020, 01:04

Nerea wrote: ↑04 Jun 2020, 10:30
JM Reviews wrote: ↑04 Jun 2020, 04:38 Just after Adam and Eve had eaten from the tree of knowledge, God drove them away from the Garden. The author of this book seems to justify every curse that God put on Adam. At some point, Adam seems grateful for the curses. What really captured my attention was the justification of the fact that God sent them away from Eden. Do you think the main purpose was to protect them from Lucifer? Do you believe that eating from the tree of life would have worsened the situation?
He wasn't protecting them from Lucifer because both Adam and Eve joined him to rebel against God. God drove them away so that they may not eat from the tree of life and become immortal souls.

This book argues that since Lucifer was given authority over the fruit of knowledge, if Adam and Eve didn't move away from him, he would have found a way of using them again. But then, why didn't God allow them to be immortal?

Post by **Melisa Jane** » 06 Jun 2020, 01:06

Wyzdomania_Gskillz wrote: ↑04 Jun 2020, 10:50
JM Reviews wrote: ↑04 Jun 2020, 04:38 Just after Adam and Eve had eaten from the tree of knowledge, God drove them away from the Garden. The author of this book seems to justify every curse that God put on Adam. At some point, Adam seems grateful for the curses. What really captured my attention was the justification of the fact that God sent them away from Eden. Do you think the main purpose was to protect them from Lucifer? Do you believe that eating from the tree of life would have worsened the situation?
First of all, God didn't put any curse what so ever on man. He only cursed the ground because of man and then increased the pains of childbearing for the woman. He didn't even introduce the pains at that time, He only increased it.....meaning the woman was already meant to experience some pain during childbirth, but probably not much.

Secondly, sending the man and woman away from the garden was for their good and that of mankind to come. That was the singular act that ensured they could be redeemed again. Because if they had gone ahead to eat from the tree of life after the fall (which I suppose they were already eating from before the fall, seeing as the tree of knowledge of good and evil was the only forbidden one), they would have lived perpetually in that fallen state with no possibility of redemption....

I can't say I'm so good with religious topics, but if I remember my Sunday school classes correctly, we were taught that both the serpent, Man and the woman all received their potion of curses.

Post by **Melisa Jane** » 06 Jun 2020, 01:09

Marion Jepkosgei wrote: ↑04 Jun 2020, 11:09 While sending Adam and Eve from the garden is a consequence of their disobedience, I would love to take Adam's thinking that despite that being a curse initially, it turned out to be a blessing. It shaped Adam and Eve on matters of parenthood that came to them later. I also like to believe God was protecting them against Satan and also giving the free will. He was giving them a chance to choose what tree to eat from: of life or of knowledge.

In my opinion therefore, it was blessing in disguise. Them being sent away paved way for redemption, something they needed more than ever after being sent from the garden.

I agree with most of your statements. Except, I don't see how God was giving them a freewill to choose between the tree of life and that of knowledge. If anything, all these trees were later protected by swords of fire. They couldn't access any of them.

Post by **Melisa Jane** » 06 Jun 2020, 01:11

Leen282 wrote: ↑04 Jun 2020, 11:40 I didn't read it as a curse. To me, it's a consequence of their actions. Since there's no comparison to what their life would have been had they been allowed to stay, it's hard to say if in the end it's more a curse or more a blessing.

I agree. It was a consequence of their actions. But do you think it brought more good to them than bad? Do you think the benefits overrode the misfortunes?

Post by **Melisa Jane** » 06 Jun 2020, 01:13

Mounce574 wrote: ↑04 Jun 2020, 14:41 I don't believe that God would ever curse people. I saw this as more of a disciplinary action due to disobeying his rule. This is also a debatable issue that is best resolved by the Bible.

Do you think this disciplinary action did them more good than God intended? I mean, see how happy they were after getting married. How happy Adam was to be the leader. Wasn't it amazing?

Leen282 · Post by **Leen282** » 06 Jun 2020, 02:09

JM Reviews wrote: ↑06 Jun 2020, 01:11
Leen282 wrote: ↑04 Jun 2020, 11:40 I didn't read it as a curse. To me, it's a consequence of their actions. Since there's no comparison to what their life would have been had they been allowed to stay, it's hard to say if in the end it's more a curse or more a blessing.
I agree. It was a consequence of their actions. But do you think it brought more good to them than bad? Do you think the benefits overrode the misfortunes?

I think, despite all the misfortunes, it was still a good thing to be able to start life outside of the garden and see more of the world, live more autonomously.

Kemmy11 · Post by **Kemmy11** » 06 Jun 2020, 04:22

Misael wrote: ↑05 Jun 2020, 08:50 It is always about choices. Adam and Eve was sent away because they chose to disregard God's words. I also think everything happens for a reason and the reason why we are where we are is because of that choice. A blessing or a curse? I think neither.

Well said. they absolutely chose to disobey God.

Post by **Melisa Jane** » 06 Jun 2020, 04:39

Leen282 wrote: ↑06 Jun 2020, 02:09
JM Reviews wrote: ↑06 Jun 2020, 01:11
Leen282 wrote: ↑04 Jun 2020, 11:40 I didn't read it as a curse. To me, it's a consequence of their actions. Since there's no comparison to what their life would have been had they been allowed to stay, it's hard to say if in the end it's more a curse or more a blessing.
I agree. It was a consequence of their actions. But do you think it brought more good to them than bad? Do you think the benefits overrode the misfortunes?
I think, despite all the misfortunes, it was still a good thing to be able to start life outside of the garden and see more of the world, live more autonomously.

I agree. They were more open to new thoughts and new possibilities. There was even more freedom.

Post by **Melisa Jane** » 06 Jun 2020, 04:41

B Creech wrote: ↑04 Jun 2020, 17:07 I don't believe Adam and Eve were sent away from the Garden of Eden to protect them from Satan, I believe they were sent away because of their sin. Satan is in the world so when they were sent out of the Garden they became even more vulnerable to him.

This is what I thought too. But like the author, most of the people in this forum think that God didn't curse or punish them.

Post by **Melisa Jane** » 06 Jun 2020, 04:43

Rwill0988 wrote: ↑04 Jun 2020, 20:17 Free will is a wonderful thing. Eating from the tree of knowledge was a blessing. While being exiled from the Garden was a punishment, I don't know if I'd go so far as to say curse. They now had to the understanding of when they felt joy and when they felt pain. Eden may be wonderful but without knowledge how can Adam, Eve or anyone really grasp the beauty, joy and bountifulness of it.

According to your statement, Lucifer actually blessed them. He is the one behind the eating of the fruit of knowledge.

Post by **Melisa Jane** » 06 Jun 2020, 04:47

Jacktone Ogada wrote: ↑05 Jun 2020, 00:50 I don't think it was protection against Lucifer, since the serpent also had his own share of curses. Furthermore, the serpent and human beings were set to be enemies forever, and so there was no way of protecting them outside the garden. I think it is simply a punishment for defiance to God's commands.

This is what I thought. But the author seems to see it as a blessing. The curse was both for humans and the serpent, though some people may argue that God cannot curse a man.

Post by **Melisa Jane** » 06 Jun 2020, 04:49

Edwin Amah wrote: ↑05 Jun 2020, 02:54 Well, it was basically the consequences of disobedience. It was a way of letting them know that they have lost the trust and man has to rebuild back that trust and get back to the garden in the afterlife.

But do you think it actually served as a punishment? In my view, which actually is the views of this book, they were happier outside the garden.

Post by **Melisa Jane** » 06 Jun 2020, 04:52

Ana-Maria-Diana wrote: ↑05 Jun 2020, 02:57 I think that this was how the things were meant to be. God had and has plans for us all. If He didn't want for Adam and Eve to eat from the tree of knowledge, the tree wouldn't have been there. If they lived in the Garden of Eden maybe none of us would've been here today.

This assumption means that God already know our paths before we were born. This means there isn't actually a freewill. We are confined in a predetermined future. That's sad.

Post by **Melisa Jane** » 06 Jun 2020, 04:53

Nama Winnie wrote: ↑05 Jun 2020, 05:36
JM Reviews wrote: ↑04 Jun 2020, 04:38 Just after Adam and Eve had eaten from the tree of knowledge, God drove them away from the Garden. The author of this book seems to justify every curse that God put on Adam. At some point, Adam seems grateful for the curses. What really captured my attention was the justification of the fact that God sent them away from Eden. Do you think the main purpose was to protect them from Lucifer? Do you believe that eating from the tree of life would have worsened the situation?
Knowing my creation story I've always thought that man was sent away as a punishment. I do not how it could possibly be good with all the suffering you see around.

I haven't read this book yet, but really hope to. If it has all these angles to this story, I'm curious

The book argues that Adam and Eve were happier, found new freedom and understood themselves better.

Post by **Melisa Jane** » 06 Jun 2020, 04:54

Nama Winnie wrote: ↑05 Jun 2020, 05:40
Alice Ngugi wrote: ↑04 Jun 2020, 05:03 I believe it was both a blessing and a curse. In the garden they could not enjoy the varying levels of emotions such as sadness and pain, at that they would not be able to fully appreciate the good times. The curse comes with separation from God and even facing death ultimately.
For me the curse wins out. I think I would prefer living in the garden and not fully expereincing joy than out here paying for the consequences of disobedience

Do you think it might just be a punishment as opposed to a curse? The word "curse" is way too strong. Just some thoughts.